Stanford 


Convert  Instructed 


BAP 


THE 


i3 


CONVERT  INStRUCTED 

IN    THB 

ORIGIN,  SIGNIFICATION,  AND  ADVANTAGES 

OF 

.    BAPTISM. 

TO  WHICH  IS  ANNEXED, 
AN 

ADDRESS 

OK     THE 

IMPROVEMENT  OF  BAPTISM, 

Delivered  to  the  Church  preparatory  to  Communion 

AT    THE 

LORD's  SUPPER. 
By  JOHN  STANFORD,  M.  J. 


Thefe  are  they  which  follow  the  Lamb  whitherfoever  he  goeth. 

Rev. 


NEJV-YORK: 
Printed  by  T.  and  J.  SWORDS,  No.  99  Pcarl-ftreet. 

— 1795-— 


■     ■         .      —  -fc= 


THE 

CONVERT  INSTRUCTED,  §ft 


JL  HAT  the  Eternal  God,  through  the  death 
of  h's  Son,  the  communications  of  his  Spirit, 
and  the  preaching  of  his  Gofpel,  hath  pro- 
vided a  falvation  worthy  his  attributes,  com- 
nienfurate  with  human  mifery,  and  fufficient 
to  produce  the  pure  ft  holinefs  and  happinefc, 
is  a  fentiment  fufficient  to  defy  the  rage  of 
infidelity,  and  confirm  revelation  to  be  a  fyftem 
worthy  of  all  acceptation.  That  heart  which 
is  enriched  with  the  grace  of  the  gofpel,  and 
is  brought  to  the  feet  of  Jefus  for  pardon,  and 
obtains  peace  with  God,  through  the  blood  of 
the  crofs,  makes  an  unreferved  furrender  ct 
itfelf  to  be  the  Lord's  forever ;  and,  as  ardently 
thirfts  after  the  paths  of  obedience  as  the 
over-driven  heart  pants  for  the  cooling  dream. 
One  of  the  fiiit  public  duties  enjoined  by 
Ciirift  on  thofe  who  are  thus  called  by  his 
grace,  is,  a  fubmifiion  to  his  .will  by  water 
A  2  baptifm. 


(     4     ) 

baptifm.  And,  as  a  right  perception  of  the- 
nature  and  intention  of  the  duty,  with  the 
pofTeflion  of  principles  congenial  with  the 
command,  is  effential  to  acceptable,  plea- 
furable  obedience;  it  is  the  intention  of  this 
treatife,  in  fubmiffion  to  the  benediction  of 
Chrift,  to  affiffc  the  chriftian  convert  to  obtain 
a  more  competent  knowledge  of  the  origin, 
iigniflcancy  and  advantages  of  baptifm;  that 
thus,  when  called  to  obey,  he  may  enjoy  the 
pleafures  of  the  inflitution,  and  go  on  in  his 
way  rejoicing. 


THE  ORIGIN  OF  BAPTISM:. 

IT  requires  but  a  fmall  degree  of  attention 
to  perceive  that  water  baptifm  does  not  arife 
from  the  precepts  of  nature.  Nature  knows 
nothing  of  fuch  a  command,  nor  is  fhe  com- 
petent to  ascertain,  either  the  fignificancy  or 
the  intention  of  it.  To  immerfe  in  water, 
either  to  cleanfe,  or  to  refiefh  the  body,  is 
indeed  natural ;  but  that  by  plunging  into 
water,  and  riling  again  by  the  hand  of  ano- 
ther, as  a  religious  fervice,  acceptable  to  God, 

is 


(   s   ) 

is  far  remote  from  Nature's  comprehension.* 

As  baptifrn  is  therefore  not  ordained  by  the 

A  3  law 

*  As  almoft  every  learned  psedobaptift  writer  has 
acknowledged  that  the  primitive  meaning  of  the 
word  baptize  is  to  immerfe,  and  that  the  ordinance 
in  the  apoftolic  age  was  administered  by  dipping 
the  fubject  in  water,  and  by  which  mode  alone  the 
fignificancy  of  the  inftitution  is  preferved;  thofe 
who  have  taken  leave  to  deviate  from  the  primi- 
tive order,  to  accommodate  perfons,  governments, 
or  climates,  will  excufe  the  Author  if  he  diibwns 
any  other  mode  of  baptifrn  than  that  of  immerfion. 
For  a  full  explanation  of  the  ivord,  and  the  fenti- 
ments  of  the  learned  paedobaptift  writers  upon  it, 
the  reader  is  referred  to  Booth's  Paedobaptifm  Ex- 
amined, vol.  i.  chap. '2.  For  the  information  of 
thofe  who  are  incompetent  in  the  Greek  language, 
I  will  transcribe  an  obiervation  of  the  learned  Mr. 
Robinfon:  "It  is  fufEcient  to  obferve,  that  the 
word  (baptize)  is  confefedly  Greek,  that  native 
Greeks  mufl  underftand  their  own  language  better 
than  foreigner?,  and  that  they  have  always  bap- 
tized, and  do  yet  baptize,  by  immerfion.  This  is 
an  authority  for  the  meaning  of  the  word  infinitely 
preferable  to  that  of  European  lexicographers y 
fo  that  a  man  who  is  obliged  to  trad:  human  tefli- 
mony,  and  who  baptizes  by  immerfion  becaufe 
the  Greeks  do,  underftands  a  Greek  word  exactly 
as  the  Greeks  themfelves  underftand  it;  and  in 
this  cafe  the  Greeks  are  unexceptionable  guides, 
end  their  practice  is  in  this  inftance  fafe  ground  of 
action."     Ktiinfm^  Hijluyof Maptifn^  p.  5,  6, 


(    6     ) 

Jaw  of  nature,  we  muft  fearch  for  it  in  the 
volume  of  revelation.  In  the  Old  Teftament 
we  have  no  information  of  an  inftitution  of 
this  kind  by  the  God  of  Ifrael.  The  Jews 
had  a  haptifm  introduced  by  tradition,  and  is 
to  be  found  in  the  writings  of  the  YadChazaka 
of  Maimonides,  a  celebrated  Jewifh  writer, 
who,  in  the  beginning  of  the  twelfth  century, 
was  head  of  a  famous  fchool  in  Egypt.  But 
the  New  Teftament  affords  us  full  informa- 
tion upon  the  fubje£t.  There  was  a  man  fent 
from  God  whofe  name  was  'John*  The  miflion 
of  this  extraordinary  perfon  was  to  preach  and 
to  baptize.  And  fo  far  from  his  baptifm  be- 
ing a  part  of  the  Jewifti  ritual,  he  acknow- 
ledges that  he  received  his  inftruclion  imme- 
diately from  God.*  John  continued  preach- 
ing the  kingdom  of  heaven,  baptizing  all  who 
came  to  him  confefiing  their  fins.  Then 
came  Jefus  from  Galilee  to  Jordan  to  be  bap- 
tized. From  a  conviction  of  the  glory  of 
Chrift,  the  Son  of  God,  the  promifedMeffiah, 
the  Baptift  declined  the  adminifhation,  faying, 
I  have  need  to  be  baptized  of  tke,  and  comeft 
thou  to  me?  But  Jefus  faid  unto  him,  fuffer 
it  to  be  fo  now,  for  thus  it  becometh  us  to 

fulfil 
*  John  i.  33. 


(    7     ) 

fulfil  all  righteoufnefs.  John  immediately 
baptized  him  ;  and  when  he  came  up  out  cf 
the  water  the  heavens  were  opened  j  the 
fpirit  of  God  defcended  like  a  dove,  and  light- 
ing upon  him,  while  a  voice  from  above  pro- 
claimed,   This   is   my   beloved    Son   in 

WHOM  I  AM  WELL  PLEASED.  Mat.  3.       Je- 

fus  now  commenced  his  public  miniftry,  and 
commiflioned  many  of  his  difciples  to  teach 
and  to  baptize  in  his  name.  Thus  we  learn 
that  baptifm  was  inftituted  firft  by  the  will 
and  authority  of  the  Father,  communicated  to 
John,  and  afterwards  by  Chrift,  to  be  per- 
formed by  his  difciples  to  the  end  of  the  world, 
Mark  xvi.  15,  16. 

Dr.  Sherlock  fays,  "  what  is  matter  of  in- 
ftitution  depends  wholly  upon  the  Divine 
will  and  pleafure  ;  and  though  all  men  will 
grant  that  God  and  Chrift  have  always  great 
reafon  fcr  their  inftitution,  yet  it  is  not  the 
reafon,  but  the  authority,  which  makes  the 
inftitution."*  But  fince  baptifm  is  not  founded 
in  the  original  conftitution  of  nature,  it  is  a 
queftion  worth  enquiry,  how  this  new  inftitu- 
tion  was  introduced  ?  For  although  it  be 
granted  that  God's  will  is  the  eiTence  of  a« 

inftitution,, 
*  Preferv.  againft  Popery,  title  9.  p.  419, 


(     8     ) 

inftitution,  yet  in  the  divine  ceconomy  he 
cannot  orr  ;  a  fyftem  of  nature  lias  already 
been  provided  for  man  on  his  creation;  nor 
can  we  luppole  iuch  fyflem  capable  of  altera- 
tion or  addition,  without  grofsly  impeaching 
the  wifdom  and  goodnels  of  the  divine  Legifla- 
tcr.  Baptifm,  therefore,  is  appointed  by  God 
in  a  new  relation,  for  a  different  adminiftration, 
and  for  fubjech  of  another  ffcatc.  All  gofpel 
appointments  are  made  by  God  as  the  God  of 
all  grace,  who,  by  the  power  of  his  Spirit, 
trc.rfatcs  guilty  men  out  of  the  kingdom  of  dark- 
fiefs,  into  the  kingdom  of  his  dear  Son  :  and  alfo 
bv  Jefus,  as  King  in  Zion,  whefe  office  it  is 
to  reveal  fuch  laws  as  are  calculated  to  preferve 
the  honour  and  hapoinefs  of  his  fpiritual  king- 
dom. Jefus  fa  id,  "My  kingdom  is  not  of  this 
world ;"  it  is  not  of  the  fyftem  of  nature  ;  net 
is  it  of  carnal  policy  ;  but,  compofed  of  fubjects 
created  new  creatures  in  Chriil:  Jefus,  and  who 
■need  a  new  law  congenial  with  their  new  Hate 
of  fpiritual  exiftence,  and  by  which  they  may 
exprefs  their  obedience  to  their  Lord  and  King. 
Now  Baptifm  is  one  of  thofe  laws,  and  binding 
only  upon  the  fubjecls  of  grace;  therefore  it 
was  that  John,  Philip,  and  all  the  primitive 
adminiftratcrs  of  the  ordinance,  required  faith 

and 


(    9    ) 

and  repentance  in  thofe  who  came  to  be  bap~ 
tized.*  When  Jefus  came  to  John  to  be  bap- 
tized of  him,  he  faid,  "  'Thus  it  becomcth  us  to 
fulfil  all  righteoufnefs  ;"  by  which  he  could 
neither  mean  the  righteoufnefs  of  the  moral, 
nor  of  the  ceremonial  law,  as  neither  of  them 
required  obedience  by  baptifm  ;  but  that  gofpel 
righteoufnefs  peculiar  to  the  difpenfation  ot 
grace  ;  and  thus  Chiift,  as  leader  of  his  people, 
has  fet  them  an  example  that  they  fnould  fol- 
low his  fteps. 

It  is  prefumed  that  the  Chriftian,  thus  tracing 
the  origin  of  baptifm,  and  viewing  it  as  an  in- 
ftitution  peculiar  to  the  kingdom  of  grace,  will 
not  only  find,  that  an  obedience  to  God  therein 
is  clofely  connected  with  his  hope  in  a  Saviour's 
blood,  but  it  will  lead  him,  in  holy  admiration 
of  the  glory  of  Jehovah,  in  the  rich  difplays 
of  his  love  among  his  people,  and  thus, 
when  called  to  obey,  he  will  enjoy  the  higher 
fatisfa&ion.  Being  a  fubjecl:  of  grace,  the 
voice  of  this  appointment  of  grace  will  power- 
fully penetrate  his  heart,  and  prompt  him  to 
obedience.  Nor  will  he  liften  with  attention 
to  the  cavils  of  men,  or  confide  in  any  fort  of 
baptifm  he  may  have   paffed  through   in   his 

ftate 
*  Mat.  hi.  Acls  viii.  3^. 


(      10     ) 

ftate  of  infancy  or  unregenerr.cy  ;  for,  being 
brought  by  grace  into  the  kingdom  of  Chriit, 
he  can  enjoy  no  plenfure  in  obedience  but  that 
which  he  knows  is  commanded  by  his  King, 
and  peculiar  to  his  new  and  happy  ilate. 

As  we  cannot  profit  by  any  duty,  considered 
as  a  means  of  grace,  unlefs  we  are  aflifted  to 
underfhnd  its  nature  and  dehgn,  I  Avail  now 
proceed  to  attempt  the  inftruclion  of  the 
Cbriftian  Convert  in  the  Signihcancy  of  Bap- 
tifm.  If  baptifm  be  an  appointment  of  God, 
for  the  obediencv  of  thofe  who  obtain  mercy 
to  believe,  it  certainly  muft  have  an  expreflh  e 
meaning— -be  calculated  to  difplay  the  w\£dom 
of  its  Divine  Inititutor,  and  conduct  the  be- 
liever into  greater  admiration  of  the  realities 
of  redeeming  grace.  May  that  bleiicd  Spirfe 
who  was  prom  i  fed  to  the  difciples  to  guide 
them  into  all  truth,  vouchfafe  to  lead  us  by 
his  word  in  our  prefent  enquiry,  and  fill  Om 
hearts  with  fac red  joy. 


THE 


(  II  } 


THE  SIGNIFICANCY  OF  BAPTISM. 

T.  IT  is  a  mirror  in  which  are  ftrikingly 
reprefented  the  Sufferings,  Death,  and  Refur- 
redtion  of  the  Son  of  God  ;  by  which  alone 
iinners  are  faved  from  plunging  into  the  wa- 
ters of  divine  vengeance.  When  Jeiusdrew 
near  to  the  period  when  all  things  that  were 
written  in  the  pfoims  and  in  the  prophets  con- 
cerning his  fuffe  rings  and  death  were  to  he 
accomplished,  with  magnanimity  of  foul  he 
faid  unto  his  diiciples,  **  I  have  a  baptifm  to  bo 
■baptized  with,  and  hoiv  am  I Jlr aliened  until  it  be 
accompli/lied /"*.  And  how  ftrikingly  were 
thefe  forrows  anticipated  as  a  baptifm  ?  Water 
is  a  well  known  fcripture  emblem  of  diftrefs ; 
— a  plun&iag  into  water,  for  the  moment,  de- 
priving  us  of  light,  and  fequeftering  us  from 
the  world  ;  and  its  frequently  being  an  inftru- 
nient  of  fufFocation  and  death,  prefent  us  a 
lively  reprefentation  of  the  extreme  fuffe rings 
and  dreadful  death  of  Jefus,  cur  adored  Savi- 
our. And,  as  the  learned  Witsius  fays, 
"  The  continuing,  how  fhort  foever,  under 
the    water,    reprefents    his   burial,    and    the 

low  eft 
*  Luke  xii.  50. 


(    n    ) 

lowed  flate  of  his  humiliation,  when  lie  was 
thought  to  be  wholly  cut  off,  while  in  the 
grave  that  was  both  fealed  and  guarded.  The 
cmerjion,  or  coming  out  of  the  water,  gives 
us  fome  refemblance  of  his  refurre&ion  or 
victory,  obtained  in  his  death  over  Death, 
which  he  vanquished  within  its  inmoft  re- 
cedes. All  thefe  particulars  the  apoftle  in- 
timates, Rom.vi.  3,  4."*  And,  I  may  add, 
thefe  great  things  ofChrift.  were  prophetically 
defciibed  by  David,  Pfa.  Ixix.  2.  M  I  am 
come  into  deep  waters  where  the  floods  overflow 
me ;  all  thy  waves  and  thy  billoivs  are  gone  over 
me." 

Come,  then,  ye  fons  of  grace,  anxious  to 
obey  your  Lord  in  baptifm--- come  fee  the 
place  where  your  Lord  lay  !  Behold  how 
cheerfully  with  John  he  defcended  Jordan's 
bank,  and  bowed  beneath  the  rolling  wave, 
and  thus  realized  to  himfelf  his  future,  bitter 
death.  How  ftrong  his  love  !  not  the  flight 
of  paffion,  or  of  inftant  zeal;  fteady  and  re- 
-folved  he  urged  his  way  through  life,  endured 
the  pains  and  penalties  of  death,  and  then 
arofe  triumphant  from  the  grave.  Was  Jefus 
thus   baptized?     Did   that  depict  his   future 

fufTeringSj 
*  Witfius  on  Baptifm,  fee  26. 


(     i3    ) 

iufferings,  death  and  refurrection  ?  Be  affured 
it  was  not  for  himfelf,  but  for  his  church, 
whom  he  loved  and  came  to  redeem.  His 
people  were  baptized  with  him  into  his  death, 
that  with  him,  as  their  glorious  head,  they 
might  enjoy  everlafting  life.  They  were 
buried  with  him  by  baptifm  into  deaths  that  like 
as  Chrift  was  raifed  up  from  the  dead  by  th& 
glory  of  the  Father,  evenfo  they  alfo  Jliould  walk 
in  newnefs  of  life,  and  bring  forth  fruit  in  rich 
abundance  to  the  glory  of  his  grace.  Through 
the  baptifm  of  Chrift  into  the  water  fee  your 
iniquities  warned  away  by  his  bloody  death  ; 
by  his  emerging  and  returning  from  the  waves, 
fee  your  justification  complete  in  him,  and 
your  title  to  happinefs  fecured;  for  "  He  was 
delivered  for  our  offences,  and  was  raifed  again 
for  our  jujlification.*  This,  my  fellow  finner, 
is  the  fource  from  whence  alone  our  peace 
can  flow ;  this  is  the  rock  on  which,  with 
fafety,  we  can  build;  and  this  ihail  be  our 
fong  through  this  dreary  vale  of  tears.  Thefe 
great  truths  being  realized  to  our  believing 
minds  in  the  ordinance  of  baptifm,  what  a 
glory  reds  upon  the  inftitution  !  How  happy 
ihofe,  who,  from  a  fenfe  of  perfonal  interefl 
B  in 

*  Rom.  iv.  25. 


(     H    ) 

in  the  rich  falvation  of  Jefus,  (land  ready  to 
obey  his  great  command  !  Jefus  was  baptized 
in  water,  in  forrow,  in  blood,  in  wrath,  in 
death,  to  refcue  you  from  endlefs  woe;  yon 
are  to  be  baptized  in  water  only,  as  a  public 
declaration  of  your  faith  in  him,  and  to  prove 
your  affectionate  obedience  to  his  will. 

IT.  The  next  fubjecT:  expreffed  by  baptifm, 
is  the  Regeneration  of  a  finner's  heart.  I  pre- 
fer introducing  this  view  of  the  inftitution 
immediately  after  an  explanation  of  it,  as  de- 
scriptive of  the  fufFerings  of  Chrift ;  becaufe 
the  fatisfaclion  of  Chrift  is  the  foundation  of 
our  regeneration.  If  Jefus  had  not  reconciled 
us  to  God  by  his  vicarious  death  on  the  crofs, 
the  fpirit  of  God,  in  juftice,  could  not  have 
regenerated  and  reconciled  the  finner's  heart 
to  his  offended  Lord.  Paul,  in  his  letter  to 
Titus,  iii.  5,  evidently  confidered  water-bap- 
tifm  an  emblem  of  a  finner's  regeneration  ; 
"  According  to  his  mercy  hefavcdvs  by  the  vjaJJi- 
ing  of  regeneration,  and  renewing  cf  the  Holy 
G/10/i."*  Paul  furcly  could  not  mean,  that 
by  a  man's  body  being  immeifed  in  water  to 

the 

*  "  Warning  us  by  regetteratim,  asinalaver,  the 
pledge  and  fign  of  which  is  in  b^ptiim."  Poo!  on 
tie  text* 


(     ftf    ) 

the  waftiing  away  the  filth  of  the  body,  thai: 
the  foul  thereby  was  regenerated  and  cleanfed 
from  its  finful  pollutions.-  Job,  from  a  con- 
viction of  the  guilt  of  his  nature,  faid,  "  If 
I  luafh  my f elf  in  fnow  water,  and  make  my  hands 
never  fo  clean,  yet  jhalt  thou  plunge  me  in  the 
ditch,  and  mine  own  clothes  Jh all  abhor  me.  For 
he  is  not  a  man,  as  lam,  that  I  Jliould  anfivcr 
him,  and  we  fhould  come  together  in  judgment" 
Job.  ix.  30,  31.  Alas!  a  perfon  may  bo 
(piinkled  with  water  in  infancy,  or  immerfed 
at  riper  age,  but  ic  will  avail  him  nothing 
while  his  heart  remains  unchanged.  The 
leprofy  lies  deep  within  the  foul,  and  denes 
the  pureii  waters  of  nature  to  cleanfe.  Simon 
Magus  was  baptized  by  an  apoftle,  but  his  foul 
was  not  a  whit  the  cleaner,  and  remained  in 
the  gall  of  bitternefs,  and  in  the  bond  of  ini- 
quity. Ifbaptifm,  in  any  form,  ad  mini  fie  red 
at  any  period  of  our  lives,  be  regeneration,  it 
fuperfedes  the  grace  of  God.  If  by  water- 
baptifm  I  have  been  regenerated,  made  a  child 
of  God,  and  an  inheritor  cf  the  kingdom  of 
heaven,  I  am  fafe  ;  there  is  no  need  of  my 
being  born  again  cf  the  Spirit.  What  a  de- 
lulive  fnare  has  this  been,  and  full  is,  to  thou- 
fands .'  They  crag  on  a  finful,  miferable  ex- 
Tj  2  iftence, 


(     16    ) 

iilence,  fuppofing,  by  their  baptifm,  they  are 
in  the  way  to  blifs,  while  their  condudt  and 
ilate  are  fuch,  according  to  Chrift's  own 
words,  that  "  they  cannot  enter  into  the  kingdom 
of  heaven."*  However,  therefore,  perfons 
may  wifh  to  be  baptized,  merely  to  affume 
a  public  profefTion  of  religion,  they  fhould 
be  informed,  that  "  works  done  before  the 
grace  of  Chrifr,  and  the  infpiration  of  his 
Spirit,  are  notpleafant  to  God,  forafmuch  as 
thev  fpring  not  of  faith  in  Jefus  Chrift;  nei- 
ther do  they  make  men  meet  to  receive  grace; 
but  they  have  the  nature  of  fn."f  None 
but  the  fobs  of  grace  can  extract  the  fweetscf 
the  means  of  grace. 

If  it  be  replied,  "  Did  not  Peter  exhort  the 
triotifands  tfjat  were  pricked  in  the  heart,  under 
his  fermon,  to  repent  and  be  baptifed for  the  re- 
i  cffr.s '?'''%  and  did  not  Ananias  fay 
untb  Paul,  "  Arij'  and  be  baptized,  and  wdjh 
away  thy  Jim,  calling  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord 
jefus."§  we  reply,  in  neither  of  thefe  cafes, 
did  the  converts  expect  to  be  cleanfed  from 
their  guilt  by  the  fimple  wafhTng  cf  water. 

They 

*  Matt,  xviii.  2,  3. 

f    15  Article  of  Epifcopal  Church. 

J  Acls  ii.  38.  §  A£ts  xxii.  16 


(     |?     ) 

They  had  previoufly  been  directed  to  behold 
a  crucified  Saviour,  through  whom  alone  par- 
don could  flow  to  their  guilty  breafts.  And, 
it  is  equally  evident,  regenerating  grace  had 
already  reached  their  hearts,  elfe  the  Jews 
had  never  cried  for  falvation  through  him, 
whom,  with  wicked  hands,  they  had  ilain ; 
nor  Paul  have  flopped  in  his  persecuting  rage 
ngainft  the  church  of  Chrift.  But  they  were 
commanded  to  be  baptized  for  the  remiflion  of 
iins;  becaufe  that  ordinance  realized  the  death 
of  Chrift,  by  whom  forgivenefs  came;  was 
an  inftitution  by  which  Jefus  would  manifeft 
to  them  his  pardoning  bve,  and  by  which 
they  were  to  commence  a  public  profeffion  of 
their  Lord  and  Saviour,  Not  water,  but  the 
bleeding  heart  of  Chrift,  is  the  fountain  open- 
ed to  wafh  away  fin ;  and  the  fpirit  of  God 
is  the  efficient  caufe  of  the  ftnnei's  fpiritual- 
iife.* 

B  5  Moft 

*  The  Germans  call  baptifm  tanff,  fiot&debiftl 
which  they  call  tieff,  in  their  language;  as  if  it  were 
proper  thofe  (lion Id  be  deeply  inmerfedi  who  are 
baptized.  And,  truly,  if  you  confider  what  bap- 
tifm fignifies,  you  (hall  fee  the  fame  thing  required: 
for  it  fignifies  that  the  old  man  and  our  nativity, 
that  is  full  of  fin  6,  which  is  entirely  .of  flefli  and 
blood,  may  be  overwhelmed  by  divine  grace.  The 


Moft  miftakes  on  thisfubjec"f.  have  originated 
from  taking  water  for  the  fpirit ;  the  fign  for 
the  thing  fignified.  God,  in  condefcention  to 
our  capacities,  has  made  ufeof  fenfible  objects 
to  explain  the  great  fubjedts  of  our  faith. 
Invifible  and  fpiritual  things  are  brought  down 
to  our  underftanding  by  thofe  which  are  vifi- 
ble and  material.  I  will  therefore  attempt  to 
fhew  the  fitnefs  of  water-  baptifm  to  reprefent 
the  regeneration  of  a  finner's  heart. 

The  element,  water,  having  a  natural  qua- 
lity to  cleanfe  the  the  filth  of  the  body,  fuf- 
iiciently  reprefents  the  efficacy  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  to  purify  the  foul.*  Water  is  the  moit 
penetrative  cf  all  bodies,  except  fire;  and  is 
the  moft  difficult  to  confume  ;  and  is  therefore 
expreflive  of  the  irrefiftible  grace  of  the  Spirit 
in  penetrating  the  inward  recefTes  of  the  heart, 
to  produce  its  renovation,  which  can  never 
finally  be  deftroyed.  Water  is  the  principle 
of  many  living  things,  and  in  their  creation, 
the   fpirit    brooded  upon  the  waters.       The 

very 

manner  of  baptifm,  therefore,  ihould  correfpond 
to  the  fignification  of  baptifm,  that  it  may  mow  a 
certain  and  plain  fign  of  it.  Luther  in  Dr,  Du  Veil 
en  Afts  viii.  38. 

*  John  iii.  5. 


(    19    ) 

very  generation  of  the  human  foetus  is  faid  to 
be  by  water.  Between  the  firfl  and  fecond 
creation,  there  is  a  finking  analogy..  The 
fpirit  of  Chrilr,  as  the  myftical  water,  is  the 
principle  of  regeneration  and  fpiritual  life, 
and  by  which  we  are  brought  into  fenfible 
union  with  God,  as  our  eternal  portion.  In 
fome  countries  baptifm  has  been  performed  in 
fonts,  or  baptiftrys  ;  in  others,  in  rivers. — The 
latter,  when  conveniently  to  be  attained,  to 
me  is  mod  expreffive  of  the  living,  animating 
influences  of  the  Spirit,  and  nearefl  refembles. 
the  baptifm  of  our  Lord  in  Jordan's  ilream. 

The  Univerfaliiy  of  regeneration  is  likewifc 
reprefented  by  the  whole  body,  and  not  a  part 
only,  being  baptized  in  water.  It  is  not  thp 
head,  the  underftanding,  nor  a  fingle  faculty 
of  the  foul,  which  is  renewed  to  the  exemp- 
tion of  the  reft:  but  the  whole  inward  man, 
mind,  will,  and  affections,  which  undergo  an 
equal  renovation  ;  fo  that  the  fubjecl:  becomes 
a  new  creature  in  Chrift  Jefus. 

Nor  is  our  obedience  to  God  in  baptifm  ones 
only  to  be  performed  in  the  courfe  of  the  chrif- 
tian  life  ;-— and  that  alfo  by  once  dipping,  the 
Jeaft  exprefTive  fign  in  that  ordinance  of  our 
regeneration,     The  regeneration  of  a  Tinner's 

heart 


(      20       ) 

heart  is  one  infiantaneous  work  of  God.  Al- 
though a  man  may  have  many  changes  in  his 
natural  life,  he  has  hut  one  birth  ;  and  although 
the  chriftian,  like  Peter,  may  need  manycon- 
verfions,  and  frequent  reftoring,  fanclifying 
mercies  from  God,  yet  he  has  only  one  Spiri- 
tual birth.  In  this  we  perceive  the  difference 
between  baptifm  and  the  Lord's  fupper.  Bap- 
tifm,  as  a  fign  of  our  regeneration^  is  once  and 
forever  t  the  Lord's  fupper  is  the  emblem  and 
means  of  our  perfonal  fenclif cation,  which  is 
progreflive,  and  therefore  often  to  be  received. 

III.  In  baptifm  the  chriftian  is  directed  to 
contemplate  and  adore  the  HOLY  TRINI- 
TY, as  his  COVENANT  GOD.  When 
the  rifen  Saviour  gave  his  laft  orders  to  Ins 
difciples  to  go  forth  and  preach  the  gofpel  to 
all  nations,  he  enjoined  them  to  baptize  *«  In 
the  name  of  the  FATHER,  and  of  the  SON* 
end  of  the  HOLY  GHOST."*  The  order 
of  thefe  facred  names,  to  be  pronounced  on 
-  the  adminiftration  of  baptifm,  could  not  have 
been  without  exprefs  defign  ;  and  upon  which 
I  will  beg  leave  to  make  the  following  remarks.. 
Baptifm  was  to  be  adminidered  in  the  name 
of  the  trinity,  becaufe  the  inftitution  itfelf  is 

fo 
*  Matt,  xxviii.  19. 


(      21      ) 

fo  very  expreffive  of  the  nature  and  excellence 
of  that  falvation  which  is  the  refulc  of  Jeho- 
vah's connlcl ;  and  in  the  execution  of  which 
each  adored  perfon  aftumed  his  own  relation 
to  his  people,  and  performed  his  feparate  en- 
gagements; therefore  baptifm  is  called  the 
counfel  of  God.  * 

As  it  is  a  God  in  trinity  and  in  unity 
who  is  the  chriilian's  God,  he,  in  baptifm, 
owns  that  God  as  fuch.  This  God  is  the 
grand  fubject  of  revelation,  whom  nature  nei- 
ther knew,  nor  reveals.  I  cannot  better  ex- 
prefs  myfelf  on  this  fublime  truth,  than  in  the 
words  of  the  evangelical  Mr.  Romaine.  "  Fa- 
ther, Son,  and  Spirit;  thefe  three  exift 
in  one  Jehovah.  They  took  thofe  names, 
not  to  defcribe  rheir  manner  of  exifring,  but 
their  manner  of  acting  ;  net  what  they  are 
in  themfelves,  but  1k>w  they  fland  related  to 
us  in  the  ceconcmy  of  redemption:  fcr  the 
eternal  Three  entered  into  covenant  before  ail 
worlds,  and  agreed  to  fuitain  certain  covenant 
offices,  and  affume  names  defcriptive  of  their 
offices.  Father  is  the  title  of  that  divine  per- 
fon who  gave  an  innumerable  company  of 
finncrs  to   his  fon,    upon  condition  that  he 

would 
*  Luke  vii.  3a 


(       22       ) 

would  be  manifefted  In  the  fiefli,  2nd  would 
become   their  furety,  to  work  out  for  them  a 
iighteoufnefs  in  his  life,  and  to  make  an  atone- 
ment for  them  by  his  death,  and  then  he  would 
be  his  father,  and  their  father.     A  co-equal, 
and  co-eternal  perfon  accepted  the  conditiony 
and  covenanted  to  be  made  man,  and  to  live 
and  die   for  the  many  ions  whom  he  was  to 
bring  to  glory  ;  therefore  he  tock  the  name 
of  Son,   Son  of  God,  Son  of  man,  &c.     An- 
other co-equal,   co-eternal  perfon  covenanted 
to  breathe  life   into  them,   to  be  to  them  the. 
Spirit,  or  breath    of  life,  that  they  might  be 
regenerate  from  a  cea:h  in  trefpafies  and  fins, 
and   be   made  the  children  of  God,   heirs    of 
God,  and  joint   heirs  withChrift;   therefore 
he   is  called    throughout    the    fcriptures,    the 
Spirit.17*      The  doctrine  of  the  trinity*  how- 
ever derided   by   thofe  who  difefuem  revela- 
tion,   is   confirmed    in  the  experience,  of  thofe 
■who  have  received  the  grace  of  God  in  truth. 
'■'   Through  Chrijl   they  have  accefs  by  one  Spirit 
unto  the  Father. "f     They  find  no  other  way  to 
enjoy  peace  and   communion    with   God  ;   no 
other   way  in  which  the  attributes  of   God 

fhinc 
*  Romaine's  Walk  of  Faith,   vol.  i.  p.  21. 
f  Eph.  h.  18.. 


(   n  ) 

mine  in  pardoning  fin  ;  therefore  they  rejoice 
in  being  baptized  in  the  name  of  the  TRI- 
NITY, to  cxprefs  their  union,  and  experi- 
ence of  their  falvation. 

As  there  was  an  auguft  difplay  of  the  tri- 
nity at  the  baptifm  of  Jefus,  fo  the  ordinance 
is  to  be  adminiftered  in  the  name  of  the  Father, 
the  Son,  and  the  Spirit.  John  received  his 
commiiTion  to  baptize  from  the  Father.  Je- 
fus was  obedient  to  the  Father  in  that  ordi- 
nance, as  the  Head  of  his  Church,  as  necef- 
fary  to  his  public  miniftry  ;  and  to  leave  his 
people  an  example  to  follow  his  fteps.  The 
Holy  Spirit  defcended  upon  him  like  a  dove, 
and  the  Father,  in  glorious  accents,  proclaimed 
him  his  beloved  Son.  Therefore,  as  tin's  me- 
morable event  was  the  public  introduction  of 
the  gofpel,  the  fame  God  bears  teftimony  to 
the  fame  ordinance,  whenever  and  wherever 
duly  .adminiftered  to  gofpel  converts. 

Nor  was  this  pofitive  order  to  be  obferved 
without  its  ufe  and  influence  on  thefe  minifters 
who  were  appointed  to  adminifter  it.  By  this 
they  might  know  the  God  by  whom  they  were 
commiffioned  ;  and  that  through  their  mi- 
niftry, and  under  the  Spirit's  influence,  the 
knowledge  of  this  JEHOVAH  ihould  be  per- 
petuated 


(      24      ) 

petuated  from  age  to  age.  Happy  is  that  fer- 
vant  who  realizes  the  fource  of  his  million, 
and  is  found  faithful  in  declaring  the  whole 
ccunfel  of  God ! 

I  venture  once  more  to  add,  that  the  body 
of  water  into  which  a  believer  is  baptized,  in 
the  name  of  the  trinity,  is  exprefiive  of  the 
unity  of  the  divine  essence  ;  and  that  by  ones 
dipping  is  our  teilimony  of  belief  in  that  truth* 
If  the  Son,  or  the  Holy  G/ioJi,  be  inferior  to 
the  Father,  one  great  figniricancy  of  the  in- 
fticution  is  removed,  and  thole,  who  either 
adminifter  it,  or  fubmit  to  it,  are,  in  my  efti- 
mation,  expofed  to  the  charge  of  idolatry. 

IV.  As  the  duty  of  baptiim  is  enjoined  on 
perfons,  immediately  on  their  converlion  to 
God,  the  chriftian  convert  may,  in  this  in- 
Aitution,  realize  the  nature  of  his  experience, 
and  the  public  profejjion  he  is  folicitous  to 
afTume. 

That  degree  of  experience  neceflary  to  a  fub- 
je£t  for  baptifm,  is  a  conviction  of  guilt  which 
merits  the  wrath  of  God,  and  a  lively  faith 
in  the  perfon  and  merits  of  Jefus  Chrift; 
thefe  were  demanded  by  the  firffc  preachers  of 
the  gofpel,  of  all  who  defired  to  be  baptized. 
Repentance  was  required  by  John  for  his  bap- 
tifm. 


(      25      ) 

tifm.*     Chrift  commiflioned  his  difciples  to 
go  and  teach  all  nations,   and   thofe  that  be- 
lieved were  to  be  baptized,  t     When  the  mul- 
titude, who  were  pricked  in  the  heart,  en- 
quired what  they  fhould  do  to  be  faved  ;  Peter 
faid  unto  them,  Repent,  and  be  baptized  every 
one  of  you,  in  the  name  of  Jefus  Chrift,  for  the 
remiffon  of  fins.   Then  they  that  gladly  received 
his  word,  were  baptized.  £     Philip  preached 
Chrift,  and  the  things  concerning  the  king- 
dom of  God,  to  the  people  of  Samaria ;  and 
they  believed,    and  were  baptized,  both  men 
and  women. §     Paul  was  baptized  after  God 
called  him  by  his  grace,  and  allured  him  that 
he   was  a  chofen  veflel.||      The  Eunuch  of 
Candace  was  baptized  on  a  profeflion  of  his 
faith  in  Chrifr.  as  the  Son  of  God,  and  went 
on  his  way  rejoicing.^"      Lydia's  heart  being 
opened  of  the  Lord,  (he  attended  to  the  things 
which  were  fpoken  by  the  apoftles,  and  was 
baptized.**    The  jailor,  likewife,  with  ail  his 
C  houfe, 

*  Mat.  iii.  6,  8. 
f  Mark  xvi.  15,  16. 
i  Ads  ii.  38-44. 
§  Acts  viii.  is. 
j|  A&s  ix. 

«f[  Adh  viii.  26,  &c. 
i**  Ads  xvi.  14,  15. 


(       26       ) 

houfe,  through  a  remarkable  difplay  of  Al- 
mighty power,  obtained  mercy  to  believe,  and 
were  baptized.*  From  thefe  inftances  pro- 
duced from  the  fcripture,  it  is  very  obvious, 
that  the  fubje£te  for  primitive  baptifm  were 
thofe,  who  believed*  repented,  received  the  word 
if  life,  and  rejoiced  in  God;  and,  as  no  man  is 
at  liberty  to  change  the  command  of  the  Lord, 
neither  can  he,  without  fin,  prefumc  to  alter 
the  fubjecls  enjoined  to  obey.  The  ordinance 
of  baptifm,  being  a  fpiritual  inflitution  ;  you 
may  perceive  from  the  fcriptures  cited  that 
none  but  fpiritual  fubjects  were  capable  of  en- 
joying the  advantages  it  was  defigned  to  con- 
vey; and  none  but  fuch  were  received  by  the 
apcftles.  It  is  necefTary  however  for  me  to 
add,  that  in  no  inftances  of  fcripture  baptifm 
were  there  objections  to  youth,  provided  they 
had  been  taught  of  God.  Nor  was  a  wicked 
life,  fuch  as  the  jailor's,  or  the  finners  at  Jcru- 
falem,  who  had  ignorantly  crucified  the  Lord 
of  Glory,  an  exclufion  from  baptifm,  11  nee 
there  were  evident  demonO rations  of  con- 
verfion  to  God.  Much  lefs  did  the  apoftles 
require  and  extenfive  variety  of  gifts,  or  long 
landing  in  experimental   grace;   neither  of 

tbefr 

*  Afb  xvi.  2£ — 33. 


(      27       ) 

Jieie  were  efTential  pre-r'equifites  to  baptifm ; 
ibr  thofe  who  by  any  means  had  delayed  their 
baptiiVn,  until  a  confiderable  age  in  the  chrif- 
tian  life,   vet  when  baptized,  they  could  be 
baptized  only  as  converts  to   Chriit.      In  the 
poffefficn  of  grace,  the  babe   in  Chriit  is'  as 
much  entitled  to   baptifm,    as  the  venerable 
father  who   may  have   known   Gftrift  forty 
years.     If  the  perfon  who  nowreads  this  can 
appeal  to  God,  that  grace  hath  made  a  change 
in  his  confeience*—  justifies  God  in  his  con- 
demnation as  a  finnerf— flies  on  the  wings 
of  faith  and  love  to  Chriit.  for  refuge,  as  the 
only  hope  let    before  him  in  the  gofpelj-*- 
and  is  anxious  to  teftify  his  obedience  and  gra- 
titude to  Jefus  by  being  baptized  ;§— if  God 
hncfa    done   thefe  great  things  for  you,  it  is 
enough  to  entitle  you  to  the  facred  infhtution  ; 
and    I    may    confidently  addrefs  you  in  the 
language  of  Ananias  to  Paul,   "  And  noiv  why 
iarriefl  thou  P  arife  and  be  baptized,  and  wajh 
mvay  thy  fins ,  calling  on  the  name  of  the  Lord." 
The  convert  advancing  to  the  water  of  bap- 
C  2  tifuv 

*  Eph.  v.  8. 

f  Pfa.  cxliii.  2.  Pfa.  exxx.  3. 

X  Heb.  vf.  16 — 20. 

§  Johnxiv.  15. 


(       28       ) 

tifm,  as  expreflive  of  his  falvation,  thus  dif- 
clofes  the  emotion  of  his  foul—-"  This  water 
into  which  I  moft  cheerfully  defend,  brings  to 
my  recolleclion  that  abyfs  of  woe,  into  which, 
by  fin,  I  was  heedUJJly  plunging  my  immortal  foul. 
But  grace  unmerited,  almighty  grace  prevented ; 
and  Ifoppcd  in  my  fight,  and  direcled  to  a  Sa- 
viour's arms.  Yes,  my  Saviour  fefus,  who  plung- 
ed beneath  the  waves  of  vengeance,  to  rcf cue  guil- 
ty me!  He  was  bapiized  in  fuffering,  in  blood, 
m  wrath,  in  death,  that  I  might  be  brought  near 
to  a  reconciled  God.  Let  my  heart  now  charge 
itfelf,  with  fwift  obedience,  to  perform  his  holy 
will.  IVith  Paul,  and  thofe  whom  grace  inclined, 
I  will  ntw  ttftfy  my  hope  in  Chrifl,  be  baptized 
into  his  deed'.  ;  that  like  as  Chrift  was  raifed  up 
fi~pm  the  dead,  by  the  glory  of  the  Father,  even 
jo  I  alfo  may  walk  in  yiewnefs  of  life,  and  no 
mor<e  pnrf.ic  the  delujive  paths  of  folly.  Thou 
Aing  of  Zion,  in  this  thine  own  appointed  way, 
bear  tefimony  to  my  heart*  and  fill  me  with  thy 
love.  By  thy  blood  and  merits,  five  me  from 
the  guilt  and  power  of  fin.  Shield  me  in  the  day 
of  trial,  and  let  me  prove  a  faithful  foldier  of 
the  crofs.  Into  thine  hand  I  now  commit  my  fp'v'n, 
for  then  haf  redeemed  me,  O  Lord  God  of  truth  ; 
end  let  mi  be  forever  thine  f-     Amen. 

The 


(     *9     ) 

The  profejjion  of  a  chriftian  is  no  lefs 
realized  than  is  his  experience.  "  As  many 
of  you  as  have  been  baptized  into  Ch?ij?,  have  put 
on  Chrijir*  As  if  he  had  faid,  .«  Thofe  of 
you  who  have  been  conquered  by  grace,  and 
have  hope  in  Chrift,  as  your  righteoufnefs, 
Lord  and  King,  did,  by  baptifm,  teftify  to 
men,  and  angels,  your  allegi  nee  to  him. 
You  then  put  on  the  robe  of  his  profeffion, 
and  die  armour  of  his  gofpel,  that  as  good 
foldiers,  you  might  fight  manfully  under  the 
banner  of  the  captain  of  your  falvation  ;— 
that  by  your  attachment  to  his  perfen  and 
government,  you  might  diftinguifh  yourfelves 
from  thofe,  who  are  alhamed  of  the  crofs." 
Such  is  the  nature  of  chriftianity ;  and  fuch 
the  oppofition  of  the  world  to  it,  that  "  all 
that  zvill  live  godly  in  Ckrift  J*fut\  fliall  fiiffer 
perfecution"\  But  the  chriftian,  vitally  united 
to  his  matter,  is  zealous  in  his  caufe,  and  dares 
to  outbrave  the  rage  of  earth  and  hell !  And 
in  the  water -of  baptifm,  as  in  a  mirror,  he 
realizes  to  himfelf  the  peifecutions  and  afflic- 
tions which  may  await  him  in  his  journey 
through  life.  Although  Zebedee's  children 
C  3  were) 

*  Gal.  iii.  27. 

f'2  Tim,  iii,  22, 


■ 


c  3°  ) 

were,  at  the  time  of  their  mother's  requefr, 
much  unacquainted  with  the  cup,  and  the 
haptifm  of  Chrift's  fufferings;  yet  every  be- 
liever finds  a  meafurc  of  fufFering  necelTarily 
apportioned  to  him.  Conftrained  by  the  love 
of  Chrilt,  he  pafTes  through  the  water  in  tef- 
timony  of  his  cheerfulnefs  to  undergo  any 
«iRic~tion  which  may  b,*fall  him;  and  thus 
confirms  the  triumph  of  the  (pou{e,—Afany 
waters  cannot  quench  love,  neither  can  the  foods 
drown  it  * 

V.  The  laft  fubjedl:  which  I  fhall  name, 
exprefTed  by  baptifm,  and  neceffary  for  the 
ehrifHan  convert  to  realize,  is  his  hope  of  in- 
tereft  in  the  triumphant  refurre6tion  of  the 
jilft  at  the  laft  day.  The  wages  of  Jin  is  death. 
By  one  man's  cfFence,  the  King  of  Terrors 
afeended  his  awful  throne,  and  now  extends 
his  reign  over  all  mankind. f  Into  the  black 
waters  of  death,  all  muft  delcend,  as  a  part 
of  the  confequence  of  fin  ;  and,  for  a  man  to 
realize  this  doleful  fcene,  terror  and  anguifh 
muft  feizc  his  breaft.  But  Jefus,  for  his  peo- 
ple, overcame  death,  by  atoning  for  fin,  and 
thus  received  the  fling  of  death  into  his  own 

heart. 

*  Sol.  Song.  viii.  7. 

t  Rom.vi.  23.  Jobxviii.  14.  Rom.  v.  17, 18; 


(    3t     > 

heart.  He  died  ;  he  plunged  beneath  the  wave 
of  death,  nnd  by  entering  into  the  dominion 
of  the  dead,  he  foiled  the  foe,  and  jrofe  again- 
as  the  complete  deliverer  of  his  church  ;  for 
it  was  not  pofliblc  that  the  bands  of  death  and 
the  grave  (hould  hold  him  within  their  power. 
Jefus  is  now  the  Refurreclion  and  the  Life  of 
his  people;  and  their  fure  pledge  of  conqueft 
over  death,  and  admiffion  to  eternal  glory. 
All  this  was  realized  in  his  baptifm  ;  and,  in 
adminiftering  the  ordinance,  we  may  addrefs 
the  candidates,  in  the  angel's  words  to  the 
women  feeking  their  bured  Saviour,  "  Come 
fee  the  place  where  your  Lord  lay."*  Partaking 
the  virtues  of  his  meritorious  death,  we  may 
look  with  triumph  on  the  tomb.  "  For  if  we 
have  been  planted  together  in  the  likenefs  cf  his 
death,  we  Jiiall  he  alfo  in  the  likenefs  of  his  refur- 
reclion."~-\  In  the  firm  belief  of  thefe  great 
truths  of  revelation,  the  Convert  approaches 
the  ordinance  of  baptifm  with  profound  reve- 
rence. Calm  and  ferene  he  enters  the  dream, 
in  plealing  anticipation,  that  when  he  comes 
to  the  folemn  waters  of  death,  he  mail  there 
be  triumphant.     Chrift  hath  taken  away  the 

fling 

*  Mat.  xxviii.  6. 
f  Rom,  vi.  5. 


f    3*     > 

ill  rig,  and  reduced  what  I  may  call  die  penal 
fub fiance  of  death  ;  fo  that  its  jhadoiu  alone  re- 
mains for  the  believer  to  pafs  *  And  how 
flrikingly  is  this  ihadowy  paflTige  of  death  re- 
prefented,  by  the  perfon  palling  through  the 
waters  of  baptifm,  and  then  riling  again  with 
a  refreihing,  animating  glow  ;  — inilcad  of 
being  compelled,  as  the  demerit  of  fin,  to 
plunge  beneath  the  inconceivable,  dreadful 
billows  of  divine  wrath,  never  to  anie  again  ! 

Having  thus  attempted  to  affift  the  Chi  if- 
tian  Convert,  in  afcertaining  the  fignification 
of  Baptifm,  he  may  admire  the  wifdom  of  its 
Divine  Inftitutor,  and  with  additional  fatisfac- 
tion  go  forward  in  the  difcharge  of  his  duty. 
An  inftitution,  (o  expreffive  as  this,  can  never 
be  realized  but  by  thofe  who  have  arrived  to 
the  exercife  of  reafon,  and  enjoy  a  meafure  of 
that  ja:tfi9  ivithont  which  it  is  impojjible  to  pic  aft 
God.f:  It  certainly  mull:  be  a  high  reflection 
upon  the  wifdom  and  grace  of  Chrift,  to  fup- 
pofe  he  fhould  cflablifh  fo  glorious  an  ordi- 
nance, to  be  adminiftered  to  thofe  who  poffefs 
neither  a  natural,  nor  a  fpiritual  capacity  to 
enjoy  it.     But  this  is  not  the  cafe  with  you, 

£01 

*  Ffa.xxiii.  4., 
f  Heb.  xi,  6. 


(    33     ) 

for  whofe  inftruction  this  treatife  is  dengned  ; 
you  have  not  only  arrived  at  an  age  in  which 
reafon  exercifes  her  extend ve  powers,  but 
you  have  obtained  mercy  to  believe,  to  the 
laving  of  your  foul.  The  fuffe rings,  death 
and  refurreclion  of  Jefus  Chrifl ;  the  regene- 
ration of  the  heart  by  the  influence  of  the 
Holy  Spirit ;  the  Trinity,  as  the  chriftian's  co- 
venant God  ;  the  nature  of  experience,  and  a 
public  profeffion  of  the  gofpcl,  and  his  hops 
of  intereft  in  the  refurrefiion  of  the  juft  in  the 
laft  day:  thefe  important  fubje&s  are  in  fome 
gcod  degree  perceived  and  enjoyed  in  your 
own  foul,  and  by  which  your  right  to  baptifm 
is  indifputable.  Convinced  of  your  duty,  and 
feeling  a  glow  of  ardor  to  obey  the  command 
of  Chrifr.,  and  to  devote  yourfelf  to  his  ho- 
nour before  faints  and  angels,  perhaps  you  fay, 
as  did  the  converted  eunuch  when  he  came 
to  a  certain  water,  "  See  here  is  water,  what 
doth  hinder  me  to  be  baptized?"  Not  to  retard 
your  fteps  in  following  Chrift;  for,  as  the 
amiable  Mr.  Hervey  faid  on  the  obedience  of 
Abraham,  "  The  Great  Jehovah  experts  ala- 
crity in  his  fervice.  Nay,  cheerfully  as  well 
as  inftantly  muir.  his  command  be  fulfilled. "* 

Yet, 
*  Theron  and  Afpafio,  vol.  Hi.  p.  198. 


34     ] 

Yet,  for  your  farther  information,  and  meet- 
nefs  to  obey,  you  will  give  me  leave  to  inform 
you  of  fome  of  thofe  advantages  which  are  to 
be  derived  from  a  believing  fubmiffion  ta 
Chrift  in  baptifm. 


ADVANTAGES  OF  BAPTISM.. 

IF  all  the  commands  of  God,  in  nature,  are- 
intended  to  promote  the  intereft  of  the  rational 
creation,  we  mufr.  believe  that  the  fpecial  in- 
ititutions  of  his  grace  are  dehgned,  in  a  more 
extend ve  manner,  to  enrich  thofe  whom  he 
hath  adopted  in  Chiift  to  be  his  children  for 
ever.  As  the  ordinance  of  baptifm  is  fo  very 
expreuive  of  the  truth  of  the  gofpel,  it  cer- 
umbJv  muft  be  calculated  to  convey  the  mofl 
(alptary  benefits  to  thofe  who  arc  true  candi- 
dates for  it.  Some  of  thefe.  advantages  we 
will  now  recite. 

I.  The  anfivcr  of  a  good  confdence  towards 
God.*  A  good  confidence  is  a  precious  jewel 
to  him  that. hath  it.  It  iupplies  the  want  of 
every  thing  d(c  within ;  and  iupports  the  pof» 

feflbr 

**  i  Peter  hi.  2:. 


1    35    | 

■feflbr  amidlt  the  unforefeen  calamities  he  may 
meet  with  from  without.  The  poiTefficn  of 
this  forms  the  bafis  of  our  perfonal  happinefs  ; 
|he  want  of  it  is  the  avenue  to  complicate 
wretchednefs.  That  baptifm  is  the  anfwer 
of  a  g->od  confeience  towards  God,  I  may  be 
permitted  thus  to  explain  :--- 

It  realizes  that  renewing  grace  which  makes 
the  confeience  good.  Every  man's  confeience 
by  nature  is  evil.  It  deceives  itfelf — abhors 
the  fear  cf  the  Almighty— daily  increafes  its 
own  guilt,  impelling  the  poffeiTor  to  walk  in 
thofe  paths  which  end  in  bitternefs  and  death. 
In  order  to  the  enjoyment  of  God,  this  con- 
feience mutt  be  enlightened  ;  its  guilt  muft  be 
pardoned,  and,  as  Paul  faid,  "  purged  from 
dead  works  to  fcrve  the  living  God."*  Now, 
as  baptifm,  the  iign  for  the  thing  ilgnified,  in 
lively  colours  reprefents  the  death  of  Chrifi, 
and  the  regenerating  influences  of  the  Holy- 
Spirit,  by  which  alone  a  man's  confeience  can 
be  purified;  it  is  therefore  called  the  anfwer 
cf  a  good  confeience.  And  is  not  this  a  va- 
luable bleflingr  That  heart  which  will  not 
bear  the  trial  cf  Chrift,  muff,  prove  a  fource 
cfrnifery  to  itfelf .!     But,  blefled  is  the  man 

who 
*  Keb.  ix.  14, 


(     36    ) 

who  can    fay,    "  He  that  judgeth  me  is  the 

Lord."* 

If  baptifm  be  called  the  anfwer  of  a  good 
confcience  towards  God,  it  neceflarily  implies 
a  queflion  propofed.  In  baptifm,  Chrift  and 
the  Convert  have  a  folemn  meeting.  The 
Saviour,  by  his  word,  addreffes  the  Convert 
in  fuch  accents  as  thefe : — u  I  am  the  Lord  that 
created  thee,  and  formed  thee.  L  have  redeemed 
thee,  I  have  called  thee  hy  thy  name,  thou  art 
mine.  My  fin,  give  me  thine  heart,  and  let  thine 
eyes  be  attentive  to  my  ways.  My  grace  is  fuffi- 
cientfor  thee  \  I  will  never  leave  thee,  nor  fcrfake 
thee.  No  weapon  formed  againfl  thee  JJi  all  prof- 
fer. Since  thou  wafl  precious  in  my  fight,  thou 
haft  been  honourable,  and  I  have  loved  thee.  Tea 
I  have  loved  thee  with  an  everlafting  love,  there- 
fore with  loving- kindnefs  have  I  drawn  thee. 
Even  to  your  old  age  I  am  he,  and  even  to  hoar 
hairs  will  J  carry  you :  I  have  made,  and  I  will 
hear,  even  I  will  carry,  and  will  deliver  you. 
Where  I  am,  there  thou  jhalt  be  alfo,  to  behold 
my  glory ;  foi  I  am  the  Lord  thy  God,  the 
Holy  One  of  Israel  thy  Saviour. " 
To  this  addrefs  the  chiiftian  may  be  faid  thus 
to  reply  : — "  Lord,  why  have  I  found  grace  in 

thine 
*   i  Cor.  Iv.  4. 


(    S7     ) 

thine  eyes ;  and  why  haft  thou  taken  knowledge  of 
me,  feeing  I  am  a  fir  anger  P  Thou  art  my  God, 
the  rock  of  my  falvation.  In  thy  blood  am  I  par- 
doned. In  thy  right  eon  fiefs  am.  I  juftified,  and 
will  glory.  By  thy  WORD  and  Spirit  do  I 
hope  daily  to  be  JanBificd :  and  by  thy  power  2 
hope  to  finijh  my  courfezvith  joy,  and  finally  dwell 
with  thee  above.  As  thou  Lord  haft  called  me 
from  Jin  andflavery  to  be  a  fubjecl  in  thy  glorious 
kingdom,  here,  at  thy  holy  inftitution,  I  give  my- 
felf  to  Thee,  to  be  thine  forever.  Witnefs  to 
my  confcience  that  I  am  thine,  and  let  me  ever 
enjoy  the  fweet,  reviving,  healing  virtues  of  thy 
blejfed  Spirit,  which  this  water  of  baptifm  realizes 
to  my  mind.  And,  as  by  im?nerfing  into  them  I 
expeel  to  ar'fs  with  an  animating  glow  upon  mv 
body,  fo,  in  the  morning  of  the  refurreclion,  may 
I  arife  with  tranfport  from  the  waves  of  death,, 
meet  thee  in  thcfliies,  and  be  for  ever  blejfed  in  thy 
frefencc.'0  Such  an  anfwer  as  this,  and  fuch  a 
teftimony,  does  a  good  confeience  declare  in 
baptifm  towards  the  God  of  falvation ;  the 
poiTeffion  of  which  mufl  create  that  fublime 
joy  my  pen  is  incompetent  fully  to  defcribe. 

Let  me  add,  baptifm  is  the  anfwer  of  a  good 

confeience  towards  God,  as,  by  the  chriftian 

being  baptized,  be  difcharges   that  important 

D  public 


(     38     ) 

public  duty  which  God,  in  his  gofpel,  required 
of  him,  and  which,  with  deep  conviction, 
may  have  long  imprefled  his  mind.  "  He  that 
knowcth  his  mqftcr's  will,  and  doth  it  not,JJiall  be 
beaten  with  many  Jlripcs.%  And  what  (tripes 
have  been  more  fevere  on  the  confeience  of 
many  than  a  wilful  neglecl  in  not  obeying 
Chrifl  in  the  ordinance  of  baptifm  ?  It  is  not 
my  prefent  intention  to  enumerate  the  many 
frivolous  excufes  made  by  fome  for  their  delay 
of  baptifm  ;  but  I  will  confidently  fay,  that 
where  a  man  is  clear  in  his  judgment  that  he 
is  a  fubje£r.  of  grace,  and  would  fenfibly  feel 
on  being  thought  not  fo  by  others;  and  that 
baptifm  is  enjoined  only  on  thofe  that  believe  ; 
that  man's  delay  is  fin  :  for,  "  to  him  that 
knoweth  to  do  good,  and  doth  it  not,  to  him  it  is 
Jin.^'f  Aperfon  living  in  fuch  wilful  difobe- 
dience  may  in  vain  complain  that  fermons, 
and  other  means  of  grace,  are  to  him  unpro- 
fitable; and  he  need  not  be  told,  that  while 
his  confeience  returns  not  an  anfwer  to  the 
commands  of  God,  he  muft  live  in  obfeurity 
of  mind,  and  be  a  prey  to  the  toimenting 
accufations  of  his  own  confeience.     But  that 

man 

*  Luke  xii.  47. 
f  James  iv.  17. 


(■    39    ) 

man  who  has  cheerfully  obeyed  the  voice  of 
his  Lord,  feels  his  heart  relieved  ;  and  he  can 
bed  tell  the  force  of  this  text ;  "  Baptifm  is  the 
anfxcr  of  a  good  confcience  towards  God." 

II.  An  increafing  manifeftation  of  Jeho- 
vah's approving,  fatiating  fmiles.-  God,' ac- 
cording to  his  prc-mife,  meets  with  his  faints 
in  their  obedience  to  his  commands ;  and  it 
hath  been  the  teftimo'ny  of  thoufands,  that 
their  joy  in  God  was  inexpreflibly  great  when 
they  obeyed  his  will  in  baptifm.  When  the 
Saviour  commimoned  his  difciples  to  go  forth, 
teach  and  baptize,  he  animated  them  to  pur- 
fue,  by  pronouncing  this  gracious  promife; 
"  Lo  f  I  am  with  thee  always  to  the  end  of  the 
werla7'."  And  this,  ina  very  eminent  degree, 
hath  been  accomplished,  both  to  the  admini- 
ftrator  and  the  fubjedl  of  baptifm.  The 
minifter  hath  experienced  the  higheft  pleafure 
in  the  fervice  of  his  matter,  and  the  baptized 
believer  exulted  in  the  dedication  of  himfelf 
to  his  adorable  Redeemer.  One  of  the  many 
prumifes  Jefus  hath  made,  that  his  fenfible 
pre  fence  fhaJI  attend  his  people  in  the  dif- 
charge  of  their  duty,  is  recorded  by  John:*' 
"  He  that  hath  my  commandments,  and  kecpeth 
D  2  them, 

*  John  xiv.  21. 


f     40    ) 

them,  he  it  is  that  lovcth  me;  and  he  that  lovcth 
mc  JJiall  be  loved  of  my  Father  ;  and  I  will  love 
him,  and  willmanifejl  my/elf  unto  him.  Preciouc- 
promife !  how  replete  with  facred  confolation  i 
to  be  enjoyed  only  by  fuch  who  are  found  obe- 
dient to  the  dilates  of  the  word  of  God, 
How  infufficient,  therefore,  the  excufe  of 
1'hofe,  who,  though  fatisfied  of  their  hope  in 
Chrift,  hefitate  to  honour  him  in  baptifm, 
becaufe  they  feel  not  that  fpiritual  activity 
■which  formerly  they  enjoyed  !  Let  fuch  learn 
£o  to  keep  the  commands  of  Chrift  as  to  dif- 
charge  them  faithfully,  and  to  believe  that 
thereby  the  promife  fhall  be  accomplifhed  to 
them  ;  and  they  then  will  afluredly  enjoy  that 
delightful  frame  of  foul,  the  want  of  which 
they  now  fo  much  regret.  As  the  Eternal 
Father,  by  voice  from  heaven,  attefted  the 
SonJJiip  of  Jefus  immediately  on  his  coming 
out  of  the  water  of  baptifm  j  fo,  in  a  propor- 
tionate degree,  God  grants  his  people  the 
tcftimony  of  the  fpirit  of  Adoption  in  the  fame 
ordinance  ;  and  by  which  they  are  more  firmly 
perfuaded  of  their  intereft  in  cvcrlafting  love, 
and  with  joy  embrace  Jehovah  as  their  eve; 
lafting  Father  in  Chrift  jefus.  In  addition 
to  this   fenfibility,  the  obedient  chriftian,  in 

this 


(     4i     ) 

this  inftitution,  beholds,  as  in  a  glafs,  the 
glory  of  the  Lord  Jefus;  the  greatnefs  of  his 
fufferings,  the  horrors  of  his  death,  and  the 
triumphs  of  his  refurre£tion.  In  the  exer- 
cife  of  faith  he  now  triumphs  in  Chrift  as  his 
Saviour  and  his  King,  "  If  Jefus  is  mine; 
if  the  virtue  of  his  crofs  is  mine;  if  the  full- 
nefs  of  his  grace  is  mine,  I  need  no  more  ;  my" 
heart  is  fatisfied,  and  at  reft/  In  him  will  I 
triumph  in  profpeet  of  death  and  judgment; 
and  from  him  I  hope  to  receive  a  never-fading 
crown  of  blifs."  Thus  the  baptized  believer, 
like  the -eunuch  of  Ethiopia,  goes  on  his  way 
.rejoicing, ' 

III.  The  baptifm  of  the  HOLY  GHOST 
was  a  bleffing  which  primitive  believers  en-* 
joyed  upon  their  obedience  to  God  in  water 
baptifm.  John  the  Baptift  foretold  that  the 
Son  op  God  JJiortld-  baptize  with  the  Holy 
GAo/i,  and  with  fire,  And  although  jefus  fre- 
quently difcour fed  with  his  difciples  on  the- 
office  cf  the  Spirit,  and  encouraged  them  to 
wait K for  vie  promije  of  the  Father,  vet  none 
received  this  fpiritual  baptifm  until  Ghri-rf 
afcended  and  was  glorified.  On  the  day  of 
pentecoiV  this  gift  was  bedewed  upon  many 
in  a  moll  aftoni  thing  manner  3  their  fouls  were 
D  3  filled 


I  42  ) 

filled  with  the  Holy  Ghoft  ;  their  lips  became 
converfant  with  languages  they  knew  not  be- 
fore ;  and  power  was  given  them  to  perform 
miracles  in  the  holy  name  of  Jefus.  The 
fame  miraculous  baptifm  was  conferred  in 
fucceflive  periods  in  the  apoftolic  age,  by  the 
laying  on  of  the  hands  of  the  apoftles,  but  is 
now  ceafed ;  unlefs  we  conclude  the  gifts  of 
the  miniftry,  to  underftand  and  unfold  the 
myftery  of  the  gofpel,  to  be  a  degree  thereof. 
It  however  appears,  that  even  in  the  primitive 
jige,  the  baptifm  of  the  Holy  Ghoft  was 
.not  always  given  for  miraculous  operations. 
77ie  difciples  at  Antioch  were  filled  zvith  joy,  and 
ivhh  the  Holy  Ghofl.  The  Ephefians,  after 
that  they  believed \  they  were  fealed  with  the  Holy 
Spirit  ofpromife.  And  the  three  thoufand  con- 
verts were  by  Peter  afTured,  that  after  their 
baptifm  they  Jliould  receive  the  gift  of  the  Holy 
Ghof.  In  neither  of  thefe  inftances  docs  it 
appear  that  the  fubjecls  were  baptized  with 
theory,  or  miraculous  gifts  of  the  Spirit ;  but 
in  a  foul-fatiating  manner,  by  which  their 
knowledge,  hope,  love  and  experience  were 
increafed,  and  they  enabled  to  advance  in  the 
chriftian  life  with  zeal.  If  the  primitive 
.faints  flood  in  need  of  this  fuiritual  baptifm, 

I  atn 


(    43     ) 

I  am  fure  we  do  likewife;  for  we  are  fubje£t 
to  the  fame  fears,   temptations  and  afflictions, 
and   need   adequate  fupport  and  confolation. 
And  although  it  be  not  my  province  to  fay 
what  baptized  perfons  may,  or  may  not  have 
enjoyed  the  baptifmal  vihtation  of  the  blefled 
Spirit,  yet,  as  I  find  it  a  privilege  in  the  gofpel 
equally  free  for  all  who  believe  and  are  bap- 
tized,  and  that  God  hath  promifed  his  Spirit  to 
them  that  afk  him,  I  am  bound,  while  writing 
this   treatife  on   baptifm,    to    encourage   the 
chriftian  convert  to  be  found  in  the  difcharge 
of  his  duty,  wait  for  the  promifed  bleffing, 
and  to  leave  the  event  wirh  his  Lord.     I  will 
only  add,  that  as  Chrift  was  led  out  of  the 
water  of  baptifm  into  the  fire  of  temptation, 
and  that  the  fame  trying  difpenfation,  more  or 
lefs,  is  the  portion  of  his  faints ;  and  as  the  hu- 
manity of  Jefus  was  ftrengthened  for  the  con- 
flict by  the  efTufion  of  the  Holy  Spirit  upon 
him   immediately   after  his  baptifm  ;  fo,  the 
young  chriftian,  after  givinghimfelf  to  Chrift 
in  water  baptifm,   in  a  lefs  or  greater  degree 
enjoys  the  fealing  baptifm  of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  by 
which  his  joy  is  increafed  in  the  Lord,  and  is 
emboldened  to  meet  the  temptations  that  may 
await  him  in  his  future  courfe.*  IV, 

*  "  The  practice  of  laying  hands  upon  the  bap- 


X 


(     44     ) 

.  IV.  By  a  goipel  obedience  to  God  in  bap- 
;ifm,  the  chriftian  convert  has  an  indifputable 
right  to  a  union  with  the  vifible  church  of 
Chrifr.  The  three  thoufand  who  were  pricked 
in  the  heart,  and  gladly  received  the  word 
under  the  minillry  of  Peter,  were  immedi- 
ately baptized,  and  the  fame  day  added  to  the 
church.*  He  therefore  who  fbnds  alone,  and 
at  a  diftance  from  the  communion  of  faintc,' 
not  only  deprives  himfelf  of  one  of  thegreatefl> 
bleflings  to  be  enjoyed  on  earth,  but,  he  cafts. 
an  infult  on  the  King  of  Zion  ;  tacitly  charges- 
the  church  with  folly  ;  lefiens  the  viilb!e> 
kingdom  of  Meffiah,  and  gives  men  leave  to. 
qucftion  the  fincerity  of  his  perfonal  religion.* 
In  the  formation  of  the  human  foul,  the  wife 
Creator  not  only  enriched  it  with  powers  ca- 
pable of  felf-gratjfication,  but  he  gave  it  a 
principle  of  fociabiljty,  in  tiie  exercife  of 
which,  the  more  fublime  paffions  of  our  nature 

might 

tized  is  alfo  grounded  upon  this  promife  ofthe  far- 
ther communication  of  the  Spirit,  and  is  ufed  as  a 
ju-ft  expreflion  of  our  expectation,  that  he  will 
lead  believers  into  greater  degrees  of  light,  ccm- 
fort  and  holinefs,  ai>  welt  as  a  prayer,  that  this 
may  be  the  happy  experience  of  the  perfon  upon' 
whom  the  hands  are  laid."     Dr,  Jcfefh  Jenkins, 

*  Ads  ii, 


(     45     ) 

might  attain  their  higheft  improvement  and 
perfection.  In  every  fphere  of  life  we  prove, 
"  It  is  not  good  for  man  to  be  alone."*  No 
fooner  is  a  foul  torn  of  God,  than  he  finds 
the  mod  cordial  attachment  to  thofe  who  are 
partakers  of  the  fame  grace.  The  King  of 
Ifracl  faid,  '?  lam  a  companion  of  all  them  that 
fear  thee,  and  of  them  that  keep  thy  precepts ."t 
11  One  thing  have  1 defired  of  the  Lord,  that  will 
J  feck  after ;  that  I  may  dwell  in  the  houfe  of  the 
Lord  all  the  days  of  my  life,  to  behold  the  beauty 
of  the  Lord,  and  to  inquire  in  his  temple.' '  %  This 
privilege  of  gofpel  fellowfhip  God  promifed 
by  Ifaiah  ;  "  One  fli all  fay,  I  am  the  Lord's; 
and  another  fn all  call  himfelf  by  the  name  of  Ja- 
cob ;  and  another  fliall  fubferibe  with  his  hand 
unto  the  Lord,  and  firname  himfelf  by  the  name 
cf  Ifrael.  Unto  them  will  I  give  in  mine  houfe, 
and  within  my  walls,  a  place  and  a  name,  better 
that;  of  fons  and  of  daughters:  I  will  give  them 
an  evcrlnfling  name,  that  fliall  nst  be  cut  off"^ 
The  privileges  to  be  enjoyed  in  a  church, 
eftablifhed  on  the  principles  of  the  gofpel. 
and  honoured    with    the   fmiles  of  God,   are 

many 
*  Gen.  ii.  18. 
f  Pfal.  cxix.  63. 
t  Pfal.  xxvii.  4. 
§  Ifa.  xliv.  5,  lvi.  $., 


C    46    ) 

many   and   precious.     A  union   with    God's 
fpiritual  family,  enfuring  their  advice,  watch- 
fulnefs,   gifts   and    prayers;   the  Table  of  the 
Lord  Jefus,  where  he  converges  with  his  chil- 
dren by   lively  emblems,    hears   their    com- 
plaints,  and  conveys  to  them  aflurance  of  his 
precious  love  ;  the  pailoral  care  of  the  miniltry 
of  Chrifl,  by  whom  inftruclion,  comfort,  and 
many  other  advantages,    under  God,    may  be 
enjoyed  ;   unity  in  the  public  and  private  pray- 
ers and  praifes  of  Zion  ;   to  behold  the  goings 
forth  of  the  Lord  in  the  adminiftration  of  his 
laws  and  ordinances,  the  gifts  and  experiences 
of  his  people,  the   converfion  of  tinners  and 
the  reftorationof  backiliders,   and  in  the  rich 
variety  of   his  facred  truth  ;   a  greater  enjoy- 
ment of  Jehovah's  promifed  prefence,  in  fuch 
a  focial  capacity,  than  individuals  have  a  right 
to   expect;   a   growth   and  habitual   meetnefs 
under  thefe  means  of  grace,  for  the  more  per- 
fect fruition  cf  God  with  the  church  trium- 
phant in  glory  :— Thefe,  and  many  other  pri- 
vileges,  by    grace   and   by   baptifm,   you    are 
entitled  to;   not  as  a  ftranger,    nor  a  vibrant, 
but  &s  a  citizen  cf  Zion,   and  a  child  in  your 
Father's  houfe. 

Having  thus, according  to  the  ability  God  hath 

riven 


(    47     ) 

given  me,  attempted  to  inftruft  the  Chriftian 
Convert  in  the  nature  and  advantages  of  bap- 
tifm,  as  a  glorious  ordinance,  pertaining  to 
the  church  of  God,  I  prefume  you  are  con- 
vinced that  the  inftitution,  in  its  own  nature, 
requires  a  fpiritual  underftanding,  and  the 
pofleffion  of  grace,  in  order  to  acceptable 
obedience  to  God  in  it ;  and,  that  the  great 
gofpel  truths  it  is  defigne-d  to  difpiay,  can  he 
performed  by  immcrJiGn  only.  The  conduct 
of  others,  who  in  any  mode  profefTedly  bap- 
tize infants,  not  yet  attained  to  the  exercife 
of  their  rational  powers ;  or  of  adults,  who 
may  be  Grangers  to  renewing,  pardoning 
grace;  thofe  you  leave  to  the  judgment  of 
God.  Enough  for  you  to  know  your  duty 
and  privilege,  exprefied  by  the  law  of  your 
matter.  As  it  is  the  being  of  grace,  and  not 
the  abundance  of  grace,  by  which  a  perfon  is 
entitled  tobaptifm,  you  may  humbly  prefume 
vourfclf  a  lawful  candidate  for  the  ordinance. 
And  although  you  be  neither  fo  rich  in  grace, 
nor  fo  lively  in  religion,  as  many  others,  nor 
as  you  yourfelf  wiih  to  be,  yet,  you  know 
that  God  hath  done  that  for  your  foul  which 
nature  never  could  have  performed.  Permit 
xne,  then,  to  exhort  you  to  a  rife  and  be  bap- 
tized 


1    48     ) 

tired  in  the  name  of  that  adorable  Imma- 
kuel  who  has  thus  called  you  by  his  grace. 
He  waits  to  be  gracious,  and  to  bear  witneik 
that  you  are  his,  and  fatiate  your  foul  with  his 
fmiles,  in  his  own  appointed  ways.  All  the 
rich  variety  of  truth,  (o  urikingly  difplayed 
in  baptifm,  he  can  realize  to  your  mind,  and 
make  your  obedience  to  him  cheerful  and  de- 
lightful. Senfible  of  this,  I  preiume  you 
have  no  difpoTition  to  linger  in  the  path.    No, 

Afham'd  of  Jefus!  fooner  far 
May  midnight  blufh  to  own  attar! 
Afham'd  of  Jefus!  juft  as  foon 
May  midnight  blufh  to  think  of  noon. 
Afham'd  of  Jefus !  yes,  I  may, 
When  I've  no  crimes  to  warn  away; 
No  tears  to  wipe,  no  joys  to  crave, 
And  no  immortal  foul  to  fave. 
'Till  then,  nor  is  the  boafting  vain, 
'Till  then  I  boaft  a  Saviour  slain! 
And,  O  may  this  my  portion  be, 
That  Jefus'  not  afnam'd  of  me! 

As  this  treatife  may  probably  be  read  by 
lb  me  who  are  fatisfied  with  the  baptifm  they 
may  have  received  in  their  infancy,  I  hope 
they  have  felt  no  unpleafant  emotion  ao-ninft 
the  author,  or  others,  whofe  fentimems  and 
practice  he  hath  recited,  ami  endeavoured  to 

confirm 


(    49    ) 

confirm  from  the  Holy  Oracles.  To  prevent 
this  as  much  as  pofTible,  1  have  avoided  that 
acrimony  which  hath  too  unfortunately  been 
indulged  in  a  difcuflion  of  baptifm.  You 
may,  however,  interrogate  yourfelf,  if  your 
baptifm,  in  its  nature  and  efFeiSts,  correfponds 
with  what  hath  now  been  cited  from  the  fcrip- 
tures.  If  you  are  a  perfon  who  knows,  by 
experience,  the  nature  and  efficacy  of  discri- 
minating, regenerating  grace,  I  will  take  the 
greater  liberty  of  aiking,  how  can  you  connde 
in  a  religious  iervice,  performed  while  you 
was  a  ftranger  and  an  enemy  to  God?  And 
was  not  this  done  without  your  knowledge  or 
confent?  Can  you  produce  one  evidence,  ei- 
ther from  the  volume  of  nature  or  revelation, 
that  God  either  commanded  you,  or  approves 
of  it  ?  If  you  can,  you  undoubtedly  ought  to  be 
Satisfied  therewith.  Say  not  it  is  a  light  thing  ; 
a  non-efiential  appointment  of  Chrifi:,  on 
whole  blood  you  reft  for  pardon,  and  whom 
you  profefs  to  love,  and  is  of  equal  magnitude 
and  excellency  as  the  Lord's  fupper,  which 
probably  you  hold  facred  to  your  foul.  If  you 
can  produce  evidence  that  you  enjoved  the 
peaceful  prefence  of  Jefus;  devoted  yourfelf 
to  his  honour,  on  the  riches  of  his  grace  to 
E  vour 


(    CT    ) 

ycur  foul ;  and  that  you  favv  in  your  mode  of 
baptifm  the  great  realities  of  the  gofpel,  as  is 
illuftrious  in  immerfion  by  faith,  and  feel  the 
approbation  of  God  therein  as  done  by  his 
appointment ;  then  I  have  nothing  more  to 
urge,  but  leave  you  to  that  God  to  whom  alone 
you  are  accountable.  But,  if  you  cannot, 
and  feel  a  defect  in  your  own  conscience,  in- 
flead  of  reproof,  all  I  will  now  fay  to  you  is, 
that  you  have  yet  a  mod  precious  privilege  to 
enjoy,  and  to  which,  as  a  child  of  grace,  you 
are  entitled.  Embrace  it  with  joy ;  honour 
your  Saviour,  and  his  fmiles  will  attend  your 
path.     Amen! 


AN 


A  N 


ADDRESS 


ON    THE- 


I.  M  P  R  O  V  E  M  E  N  T 


BAPTISM, 


DELIVERED    TO    Till    CHURCH    PREPARATORY    TO   THE 


LORD'S  SUPPER. 


M 


A  N 


ADDRESS,   &c 


Brethren  in  the  Lord, 


A 


NTICIPATING  your  attendance  en  the 
Lord's  Supper  the  enfuing  Sabbath,  I  am  in- 
duced to  aflitt  you  in  the  improvement  of  vour 
baptifm,   as  preparatory  to  that  folemnity. 

Infants,  you  (ay,  are  baptized  without  active 
reafon  or  faith  ;  therefore  they  are  incompetent 
to  know  the  path  of  duty  ;  nor  can  thev  at  a  fu- 
ture period  improve,  baptiim  to  real  advantage. 
Whatever  truth  there  may  be  in  thisaflertion, 
the  cafe  was  different  with  ycu,  From  the 
poffeffion  of  grace,  and  the  ftudy  of  the  New 
Teitament,  you  had  fomc  knowledge  of  the 
nature,  intention  and  advantages  of  baptiim  ; 
therefore,  rn-y  brethren,  you  are  left  without 
excufe  if  you  neglect  the  reviewal  of  that  fo- 
lemn  tr3nfac\icn,  and  make  not  fuch  improve* 
meat  of  it  as  it  is  calculated  to  afford.  How- 
ever, there  may  be  no  duty  more  generally 
E  3  neglected. 


(    54    ) 

neglected,  and  lefs  underftood  than  this.  As 
on  fucli  an  occafion  ns  the  prefent,  when  we 
are  withdrawn  from  the  world  to  discharge 
many  of  thofe  relative  duties  refulting  from 
our  union  in  a  church  ftate,  and  are  looking 
forward  to  the  approaching  Sabbath,  when 
we  mail  partake  of  the  fupper  of  the  Lord  ; 
an  attempt  to  aflift  you  in  the  improvement  of 
your  baotifm  may  not  be  unacceptable.  Oh  ! 
that  the  adorable  Immanuel  may  indulge  us 
with  his  fmiles,  grant  us  the  power  of  reflect- 
ing on  our  paft  life,  and,  anew,  to  advance  ia 
the  path  that  leadeth  to  glory. 

I.  A  reviewal  of  your  baptifm  will  necef- 
farily  bring  to  recollection  that  early  experi- 
ence which  gave  you  a  title  to  the  institution. 
•'  Call  to  remembrance  the  former  days  in  which 
ye  were  illuminated ',"*  is  an  apoflolic  injunc- 
tion. The  time,  the  place,  the  means  by 
which  Jefus  brought  us  to  the  enjoyment  of 
his  fmiles ;  or,  if  his  w?ork  of  grace  was  more 
gradual  and  lefs  imperceptible,  to  bring  to  re- 
collection our  firft  experience  of  peace  with 
Gcd ;  this  cannot  fail  to  produce  in  us  the 
mod  fublime  joy.  When  we  advanced  to 
the  water  of  baptifm,  we  Caw  in  it  a  ftriking 

emblem 
*  Jleb,  x.  32. 


(    55    ) 

emblem  of  that  finful,  dreadful  (late  we  were 
in  by  nature;  and  the   fuffering,   death    and 
refurrection  of   the   Lord    Jefus,    by  whom 
alone  we  are  delivered  from  wrath  to  come. 
Paul  reminded  the  church  at  ColofTe  of  their 
having  enjoyed  the  fame  privilege.      "  Buried 
with  him  in  baptifm,  wherein  alfo  you  are  rifen 
with  him,  through  the  faith  of  the  operation  of 
God,  who  hath  raifed  him  from  the  dead."*    In 
that    early   ftage  of   the  chriftian    life,   how 
bright  was  our  faith  !    how   lively  our  affec- 
tions !  how  cheerfully  we  followed  the  Lamb  ! 
Precious   moments!     delightful   enjoyments! 
never,  never  to  be  forgotten!     With  what: 
pleafure  did  we  advance  to  the  gates  of  Zion, 
faying,   "  Come  and  hear  all  ye  that  fear  God, 
and  I  will  declare  what  he  hath  done  for  my  foul,  f 
Open  to  me  the  gates  of  right eoufnefs  ;   I  will  go 
into  them,  and  I  will  praife  the  Lord."%      How 
fatisfactory  and  eftablifhing  to  our  minds  was 
the  teflimony  of  the  faints  in  our  favour  !   and 
how    pleanng    the    welcome    we    received  ! 
"  Come  in,  thou  blejpd  of  the  Lord ';  wherefore 
fandeth  thou  without  P     Come,  and  with  us  be- 
hold 

*  Col.  ii.  12. 

t  Pfal.  lxvi.  16. 

%  Pfal.  cxviii.  19. 


(     56     ) 

held  the  beauty  of  the  Lord  in  his  temple  \  enjoy 
the  rich  feeft  of  his  grace  at  his  table  ;  and  await 
/us  coming  to  receive  us  to  glory.  For  he  brought 
us  into  his  banqueting  hcufe,  and  his  banner  over 
us  was  love."  Thefe  p'eafures,  however, 
did  increafe  in  obeying  the  Lord  in  baptifm. 
The  recollection  of  our  duty  brings  the  (bene 
afrefh  to  view.  Surrounding  faints,  an  rid* 
miring  world,  and  holy  angels  witnefTed  our 
furrender  to  Cn'rift,  who  bought  us  with  his 
blood.  With  what  cempefure  of  foui  did 
we  go  down  into  the  water  in  the  hand  cf 
the  honoured  Servant  of  the  Lord  L  and  how 
truly  iolemn  the  accents  of  his  lips,  when 
pronouncing  the  holy  name  of  the  Father,  of 
the  Son,  and  oi  the  Spirit;  and  then  interred 
us  in  the  liquid  grave  with  Chrift !  From  the 
teftimony  of  a  good  confeience,  and  under 
the  fmiies  of  our  adorable  Saviour,  how  cheer- 
fully did  we  goon  our  way  rejoicing-  took 
our  feat  among  the  family  of  God,  and  re- 
joiced in  the  hope  of.  greater  blifs  in' the 
Church  above ! 

While  I  recite  this  cur  eariy  experience,  it 
may  not  be  improbable  that  your  breaft  may 
lament,  "  Oh  that  it  were  wuh  me  as  in  months 
pail '    But,  wot  i$  me,  for  I  am  as  when  they 

have 


(    57     ) 

have  gathered  the  fummer  fruit;  as  the  grape 
gleaning  of  the  vintage:  there  is  no  clutter  to 
eat;  my  foul  defired  the  faft  ripe  fruit."* 
Do  you  indeed,  my  brethren,  deGre  the  firfr. 
ripe  fruit  of  converfion,  and  again  enjoy  the 
fame  lively  fenfibility  you  had  at  your  bap- 
tifiri?  Go  then  to  the  table  of  the  Lord; 
there  you  fee  many  of  the  fame  rich  blef- 
fings  of  grace  exhibited  in  lively  figures, 
which  you  beheld  in  baptifm.  Go  to  Jefus, 
and  with  David  fay,  "  Thy  vows  are  upon  me 
OGod;  I  will  render  praifes  unto  thee.  For  thou 
haft  delivered  my  foul  from  death  ;  wilt  not  thou 
deliver  my  feet  from  falling,  that  I  may  walk 
before  God  in  the  light  of  the  living?  \ 

II.  We  cannot  recollect  the  pleafures 'we 
enjoyed  at  our  baptifm,  without  improving 
that  ordinance  as  a  mean  of  humiliation,  and 
to  raife  in  our  bread;  the  molt  lively  emotions 
of  gratitude  to  Godf  who,  am  it)  ft  the  many 
imperfections  of  our  life,  hath  proved  himfeif 
our  unchangeable  friend. 

Did  we  not  at  our  baptifm  renounce  the 
world,  and  profefledly  embrace  the  Lord  of 
Life  as  our  only  portion?    Did  we  not,  by 

bending 

*  Micah  vii.  i. 
f  Pfal.  Ivi  12,  13. 


(     58     ) 

bending  beneath  the  wave,  declare  our  deai.1i 
to  fin;  and  by  i  in  merging  from  the  liquid 
tomb,  proteft  our  fouls  ihculd  live  anew  to 
God  ?  Yer,  on  a  reviewal  of  our  life,  what 
imperfections  have  attended  our  path  !  With- 
out enumerating  the  thaufanus  of  cur  offences 
before  our  bap ti fen,  let  us  review  thofe  only 
which  we  have  committed  ilnce.  How  great 
their  number  !  how  aggravated  their  nature.' 
Contrary  to  our  moft  f  iemn  vows  and  firmer!: 
refolutions,  what  wanderings  of  heart,  un- 
hallowed thoughts,  and  sfciJinL'negie&s  may 
we  juftly  charge  upon  ouvfelves!  How  ex- 
tremely hath  our  love  declined  !  and  how  • 
has  our  faith  yielded  to  the  1  aneful  powers  ct 
unbelief,   decoying   us  men;    dreary 

fhades !      In  our  private   walk  '-with-  God,   in 
our  family,   and  in  the  .  <  f  OSj    it 

eapedj  have  been  10  faithful,  holy 
and  zealoas,  as  to  leave  no  room  for  regret. 
Every  heart  in  this  affemblv  kuoweth  its  own 
bitternefs ;  and  each  one  of  us  feels  within  his 
breafc  an  accountability  to  our  Saviour.  What 
a  mercy  is  it,  my  brethren,  that  we  have  to 
do  with  an  unchangeable  God!  Our  Jefus, 
into  whom  we  have  been  baptized,  is  the  fame 
yefterday,  to-day  and  forever.     He  refteth  in 

his 


(     59     ) 

his   love,   and  is  a  friend  that  fticketh  clofer 
than  a   brother;  therefore  it  is  that  we  have 
been    preferved  unto  this  period.      Goodnefs 
and  mercy,   m    rich   abundance,   and  in  clofe 
fuccefiion,    have   followed   us  all   our    days. 
How  frequent   the  interpofition  of  his  hund, 
when  we  were  furrounded  with  danger  !   and 
how  fafe  the  refuge  we  enjoyed    beneath   the 
wings  of  his  grace,  when  ftorm   and  tempeft 
beat  frirloufly  upon  us,  and  no  human  aid  was 
nigh  !      When  empty  in  ourfelves,    he    hath 
often  led  us  to  receive  the  water  of  life  flow- 
ing  from    the    never-failing   fountain    of  his 
heart.    Yes,  this  is  the  Gcd  to  whom  we  gave 
ourfelves  in  Bapfcifm  ;  and  who  at  firfi:  brought 
us  from  darknefs  to  light,  that  we  might  have 
pardon  and  peace  in  Jefus.      Oh  for  an  heart 
to  live  to  his  praife  !   As  we  have  been  baptized 
into  the  death  of  Jefus,   and  buried  with  him 
by  baptifm,  Oh  that  asChrifr.  was  raifed  from 
the  dead  by  the  glory  of  the  Father,   even  fo 
we,   by  the   fame   power,   may  daily  walk  in 
newnefs  of  life  !      Let  us  then  await  the  ap- 
proaching   Sabbath,     furround    the    table    of 
Chrift  in  tils  church,   tell  him  all  our  grief:, 
confefs  our  various  fms,  and  implore  his  par- 
doning love.     There  let  us  renew  our  en- 
gagement; 


(  fe  ) 

gagements  with  him,  feed  upon  his  bread, 
drink  his  wine,  and  charge  our  fouls  to  live 
forever  to  his  praife. 

III.  You  may,  my  brethren,  improve  your 
baptifm  (o  as  to  confirm  and  endear  the  focial 
band  of  fellowfhip  which  you  enjoy  with 
each  other  as  a  branch  of  Chrift's  vifible 
church.  "  There  is  one  body,  and  one  Spirit, 
even  as  ye  are  called  into  one  hope  of  your  calling ; 
&ne  Lord,  one  faith,  one  baptifm,  one  God  and 
Father  of  all,  who  is  above  all,  and  through  all, 
and  in  you  #//."*  You  all  profeffed  an  intei  eft 
in  the  fame  Chrift,  were  received  into  the 
church  as  partakers  of  the  fame  grace,  and  all 
drank  the  fpirit  of  the  gofpel.  «*  As  the  body 
is  one,  and  hath  many  members,  and  all  the  mem- 
bers «f  that  one  body,  being  many,  are  one  body^fo 
is  Chrift.  For  by  one  Spirit  are  we  all  baptized 
into  one  body,  whether  we  be  fews  or  Gentiles, 
whether  we  be  bond  or  free  ;  and  have  been  all 
made  to  drink  into  one  Spirit.  For  the  body  is  not 
one  member  but  many."\  You  are  all  loved 
with  the  fame  everlafting  love,  children  of  one 
glericus  Father  in  Chrift,  and  have  an  equal 
right  to  the  laws,    privileges  and  honours  of 

Zicn* 

*  Eph.  iv.  4,  5,  6. 

f   1  Cor.  xii.    12,  13,  14. 


(    61     ) 

Zion.     And  how  ftrikingly  was  this  exprefled 
by  your  own  baptifm,   and  by  once  dipping  it 
As  the  many  particles  of  water  formed  one 
body,  into  which  you  were  baptized,  fo  grace, 
in  all  its  rich  and  inexpreffible  variety,  is  one. 
How  ought  this  view  of  your  baptifm  to  unite 
your  hearts,  minds,  judgments  and  affections 
in  the  higheft  poffible  degree  !     u  Walk  worthy 
of  the  vocation  wherewith  you  are  called.     Love 
as  brethren  ;   be  tender  hearted  one  tozvards  ano- 
ther, putting  on  charity  as  the  bond  of  perfccJ- 
nefs."      Enjoy  the   means    of   grace    with    a 
fteadymind,  a  believing  heart,   and  a  praying- 
foul.      li  FoIIqvj  after  things  that  make  for  peace, 
and  things  whereby  one  may  edify  another."     Be 
faithful  to  God,   in  maintaining  the  glory  of 
his  truth,  and  the  fimplicity  of  his  inftitutions. 
Ever  bow  to  the  authority  of  Chrift:  in  his 
laws,  agreeably  to  your  profefled  allegiance  to 
him  at  your  baptifm.      "  Henceforth  be  no  mere 
children,     tojjed  to   and  fro,   and  carried  about 
with  every  wind  of  do  Brine,  by  the  flight  of  men, 
and  cunning  craftinefs,  whereby  they  lie  in  wait  to 
deceive:   but  /peaking  the  truth  in  love,  may  grow 
up  into  him    in    all  th'rngs,  which   is  the   head, 
even   Chrift ;  from    whom   the  whole   body  fitly 
joined  together  >  and  compacted  by  that  which  every 
F  join* 


I       02       j 

joint  fuppliethj  according  to  the  cjj'etiual  working 
hi  the  meafurc  of  every  part,  moheth  incrcafc  of 
the  body,  unto  the  edifying  of  hf elf  in  love.'*  Pray 
for  the  peace  of  Jemfalem  ;  they  lhall  prof- 
per  that  love  her.  Pray  that  the  power  and 
fenfible  prefence  of  the  Father,  the  Son,  and 
the  Spirit,  into  whom  ye  were  baptized,  may 
be  highly  experienced  among  you.  Thus 
ihall  your  miniftry  bebleffed;  your  ordinan- 
ces will  yield  you  delight;  and  your  numbers 
lhall  increafewith  men  as  with  a  flock. 

IV.  I  will  take  leave  to  add  only,  that  a 
review  of  your  baptifm  will  aflift  in  the  con- 
firmation of  your  fouls  in  God.  He  who 
gave  you  pleafure  at  the  water  of  baptifm, 
will  give  you  fupport  in  the  water  of  death. 
Though  we  cannot  extract  merit  from  our 
pair  duties  nor  experiences,  yet  we  may  ufe 
them  both  as  arguments  to  encourage  our  fouls 
in  God.  That  God  did,  by  his  grace,  give  us 
a  title  to  baptifm,  we  dare  not  deny.  That 
he  met  with  us  in  the  duty,  and  enabled  us  to 
go  on  our  way  rejoicing,  are  facts,  the  force 
of  which  can  never  be  erafed  from  our  breafts: 
and  it  is  equally  true,  that  he  now  hoideth 

our 

*  Eph.  iv.  14,  15,  16. 


(    63    ) 

our  fouls  iti  life.  He  cannot,  he  will  not 
forfake  the  work  of  his  own  hand.  He  will 
perfect  that  which  concerneth  us.  The  fol- 
lowers of  the  Lamb  fhall  not  mifs  the  path 
that  leads  to  the  Throne  of  Glory.  As  Jefus 
arofe,  fir  ft  from  the  water  of  baptifm,  then 
from  the  water  of  death,  to  enter  the  prefence 
of  his  Father;  fo,  the  hope  you  profeflfed  in  a 
rifen  Chrift,  in  your  baptifm,  (hall  not  prove, 
abortive.  He  lives  at  his  Father's  right  hand, 
and  ye  lliall  live  alfo. 

Suffer  tne  to  remind  you  as  a  Church,  what 
the  Lord  hath  done  for  you,  fince  your  bap- 
tifm, and  your  conjlitution.  Attempt  to  review 
your  judgments,  and  your  mercies.  What 
decays  by  death,  and  what  increafe  by  con- 
verfion  ;  what  afflictions  by  fin  and  error, 
and  what  prefervation  by  the  arm  of  Jefus,  the 
King  of  Zion.  If,  as  individuals,  we  have  trod 
a  diverfified  path ;  equally  fo  has  the  church 
feen  her  changes.  Confide  in  the  future  pro- 
tection of  your  Lord.  I  prefume  to  believe, 
he  will  not  forfake  the  inheritance  which  he 
hath  among  you.  The  walls  of  Zion  are  ever 
before  him;  and  her  name  is  engraven  upon 
his  heart.  As  a  vineyard  of  red  wine,  the  Lord 
is  your  keeper,  and  hath  faid,  I  will  water  it 

every 


(     64     ) 

every  moment;  left  any  hurt  it,  I  will  keep  it 
night  and  day*  Remember,  that  Chrift  loved 
the  church,  and  gave  him/elf  for  it ;  that  he  might 
cleanfe  it  with  the  waJJiing  of  water  by  the  word ; 
that  he  might  prefent  it  to  himfclf  a  glorious 
church,  not  having  fpot  or  wrinkle,  or  any  fuch 
thing  ;  but  that  it  Jhould  be  holy,  and  without  ble- 
mifti.f  With  thefe  fentiments ;  and  filled  with 
reverence,  may  you  approach  the  Lord's  Ta- 
ble ;  and  God  will  confirm  your  hope  unto  the 
end.  There  may  the  glory  of  the  Lord  arifc 
"upon  you,  and  your  fouls  enjoy  that  delight- 
ful repaft,  that  can  only  be  exceeded  by  your 
fetting  down  at  the  mairiage-fupper  of  the 
Lamb. 

You  now  perceive,  my  brethren,  that  you 
may  improve  your  bnptifm  to  fpii  itual  advan- 
tage ;  and  that  to  neglect  this  duty  is  your 
lofs.  May  my  prefent  addrefs  to  you  be  fo 
far  nfeful,  that  you  may  frequently  reflect 
•upon  your  biptifm,  and  thereby  enjoy  the  moil: 
pleafurable  fatisfaction  in  Chrift,  and  with 
one  another.  Let  your  loins  be  girded  about, 
and  your  lights  burning ;    and  ye  your/elves  like 

unt$ 

*  Ifa.  xxvi'.  2,  3. 
|  Eph.  v.  26,  27. 


(     65    ) 

unto  men  that  wait  for  their  Lord,  when  he  will 
return  from  the  wedding;  that,  zuh-en  he  comcth 
and  knocketh,  they  may  open  to  him  immediately. 
BlcJJed  are  thofe  fervants  whom  the  Lord,  when 
he  cometh,  JJiall find  watching.*     Amen. 

*  Luke  xii.  35,  36,  37. 


GENERAL  SUBSCRIBERS. 


AMERICA 

Rev.  William  Bifhop, 
Rev,  John  Cayton,  , 
Rev.  Benjamin  Coles, 
Rev.  Dr.  John  Dodge, 
Rev.  Enoch  Ferris,  . 
Rev.  Reuben  Garrifon, 
Rev.  John  Johnfton,     . 
Rev.  Thomas  Montanye, 
Rev.  Dr.  William  Rogers, 
Rev.  Silas  Southworth, 
Jofeph  Winter,  Efq;     . 
Deacon  John  Stillwell,  . 


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ENGLAND. 

Rev.  Samuel  Medley,    . 
Rev.  Jofeph  Middleton, 
Rev.  Thomas  Davis,     . 
Rev.  John  B.  Pewtrefs, 
Rev.  William  Coe,  .     . 
Rev.  Jofeph  Terry, 
Rev.  Thomas  Humphrey, 
Rev.  Thomas  Purdy,    . 
Rev.  William  Copping, 
Rev.  John  Stanger,  .     . 

Rev. Fofter, 

Rev.  William  Atwood, 

Rev. Rabbeth, 

Thomas  Naylor,  Efq;  . 


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